Stbjping attachment fob knitting machines



Feb. 3, 1925.

D. F. SULLIVAN STRTPING ATTACHMENT FOR KNITTING MACHINES Fi led May 16, 1924 5 Sheets-Sheet 1 A WE Inventor.

Daniel F. Suilivcm byM Maw Afiys Feb. 3, 1925.

D. F. SULLIVAN STRTPING ATTACHMENT FQR KNITTING MACHINES Filed May 16, 1924 3 Sheets-Sheet 2 lnv nror. Daniel F. Sullivan Feb. 3, 1925. 1.524.759

' D. F. SULLIVAN STRTPING ATTACHMENT FOR KNITTING MACHINES Filed May 16, 1924 3 Sheets-Shet 5 Fig. 5.

Fig. 7

7 m llilllllll llnmlll LJ" F u Inventor Dclnlel FSulhvan Attys.

Patent Feb. 3, 1225..

Pica.

I F. SULLIVAN, OIE LOWELL, MASSACHUSETTS, ASSIGNOR OIF ONE-HALF TO WILLIAM SOCHA, OF CHELSEA, MASSACHUSETTS.

STRIPING- ATTACHMENT FOR KNTTTING MACHINES.

Application filed May 16,

To all whom it may cmwem;

Be it known that I, DANIEL F. SULLIVAN, a citizen of the United States, and resident of Lowell, county of Middlesex, State of Massachusetts, have invented" an Improvement in Striping Attachments for Knitting Machines, of which the following description, in connectiorrwitlr the'accompanying drawing, is a specification, like characters on the drawing representing like parts.

This invention relates to striping attachments for knitting machines and is in the nature of an improvement on the device illustrated in my Patent :No. 851,042, dated April 23, 1907. The patent shows a stri ing attachment comprising two yarn-gui ing tubes by which the yarn is delivered to the needles and an actuating member in the form of a pattern wheel which controls the movements of the yarn-guiding tubes into and out of operative pos tion, the construction being such that when one guiding tube is in operative position to deliver yarn to the needles the other is out of operative position. In the patented device also the actuating member is intermittently rotated by the rotation of the needle cylinder, .each rotation of the needle cylinder stepping the actuatingdevice forward one step.

One feature-ofmy present invention relates to the actuating member and the means for operating it. In this invention the actuating member is constructed so that at each step forward the yarn-guiding device will be reversed in position, the tube which was in operative position being moved into an inoperative position andvice versa. In-

stead of beini given a step forward at each rotation of t e needle cylinder as in said patent I have, in my present invention, rovided-a pattern mechanism for contro g the periods at which the actuating member will be moved forward, so that my present device comprises pattern-controlled means for o crating the rotary actuating member yarn-actuating tubes are con- The device of said patent also includes a knife or cutter for cutting each. yarn when it iscarried out of knitting.v osition by its yarn-gm" tube, and anot er feature of my p mvention'relates to an improvedmeans for actuating the cutter.

Other f of my invention will be more y hereinafter set forth in the fol- 1924. Serial 1:0. -.1s,ec1.

part of the mechanism for actuating the pattern chain; 1

Fig. 4 is a fragmentary view showing the lock for the plunger;

Fig. 5 is a view showing the pattern chain actuating mechanism;

Fig. 6 is a view similar to Fig, 2 but showing the yarn-guiding tubes in reverse position;

Fig. 7 is a detail view showing part of the means for operatin the knife.

Inasmuch as the invention relates simply to the striping atachment for a knitting machine I have not thought it necessary to illustrate the entire knitting machine in the drawings but have shown only a s'uflicient portion thereof to enable the invention to be understood.

- 1 indicates the needle cylinder ofthe knit ting machine which carries a row-of sprin needles 2. This needle cylinder .is' rotated in the direction of the arrow Fig. 1.

- The. yarn is delivered to the needles through the yarn-guiding tubes 3 and 4.

these tubes carying yarn of different colorsand being movable into and out of operative position all',as described in my above-mentioned patent. The yarn-guiding tube-4 is shown in Fig. 2 in operative osition so that the yarn which is being use is'that delivered through the tube 4 and when a stripe is to be made in the goods the yarn-guiding tube 4. is thrown out of operative position and the yarn-guiding tube 3 having different colored yarn is brought into operative position as shown in Fig. 6.

-5 indicatesthe usual outside yarn ide which presses against the beards of the needles and which prevents theyarn which is going out of operation from getting under said beards and which operates to guide the yarn that is comin into operation down between the needles into the proper place on the usual loop wheel 6.

7 indicates the usual on the inside of the needl push-back located 'The yarn-guiding tubes 3 and 4 are shown as supported in holders 8 which are pivotally connected to the upper ends of levers 9 and 10 that are pivoted at 11 to a bracket 12 that is suitably secured to the knitting machine frame.

The upper ends of the tubes'pass between two guiding pins 13 which are supported on the adjustable arm 14 that is carried by the bracket 12. With this construction the forward swinging movement of either arm -9 or 10 will result in throwing the corresponding yarn-guiding tube upwardly into itsinoperative position and rearward swinging movement thereof will bringthe corresponding yarn-guiding tube downwardly into its operative position. -The movement of these arms 9 and 10 is controlled by a rotary actuating member 15 in the form of a disk rotatably mounted on a stud 16 carried by the bracket 12. This disk has a series of pins 17 extending laterally from one face thereof and another series of pins 18 extending laterally from the opposite face thereof, the pins 17 and 18 havinga staggered relation.

Pivotally mounted on a stud 19 extending from the bracket 12 are two swinging members 20, 21 each having a nose 22 which is adapted to be engaged by the pins 17 or 18 and each also having an adjustable screw 23 which engages the corresponding levers 9, 10. As the actuating member 15 is turned the engagement of each pin 17 with the rocking member will swing it forwardly there- .by swinging the arm 9 forwardly and thereby moving the yarn-guiding tube 3 upwardly into its inoperative position, and the engagement of each pin 18 with the member 21 will swing the latter forwardly and thereby swing the arm 10 forwardly and throw the yarn-guiding tube 4 upwardly into its inoperative position. As the pins 17 and 18 pass off from the members 20and 21 the spring 24 returns the arms 9 and-10 to their rearward position.

The actuating member 15 is moved forwardly intermittently by means of a vibrati'ng plunger 25 which is slidablymounted in the bracket and which carries at roll 26 that is actuated by a cam 27 on the needle cyli'nder all as shown inthe above mentioned patent. This plunger is acted on by a return spring 28 which'tends to move it forward into the position shown in Fig. 6 and which carries a spring-pressed pawl 29 that oo-o crates with the ratchet teeth 30 formed on t e member 15. The pins 17 and 18 are so disposed relative to each other and I relative to the ratchet teeth 30 that at each forward step of the member 15 one. yarnguiding tube will be thrown out of operative position and the other will be returned to operative position.

In m present invention the plunger 25 is normal y locked in its rearward position its end a area-rte change the yarn being delivered to the needles thereby to produce a stripe. When this plunger is released it will move forwardly into the position shown in Fig.' 6 under the influence of the spring 28 and upon the next rotation of the cylinder the cam 27 will move it backwardly thereby advancing the actuating member 15 one step which will result in reversing the position of the yarnguiding tubes 3 and 4 as above described.

The lockcontrolling the plunger is constructed so that it will automatically come into action to lock the plunger in its backward position until the pattern mechanism again releases the lock. The lock for the plunger is shown as a locking latch 31 which is pivoted to the bracket at 32 and which is acted on by a spring 33. This latch, when in operative position, engages a notch 34 formed in the plunger thereby locking the plunger in its rearward position, as shown in Fig. 4. When the latch is depressed into the'dotted line position 4 it is withdrawn from the notch 34 and the spring 28 then moves the plunger forwardly into position to be actuated by the cam 27.

As stated above the operation of this look is controlled by a pattern mechanism herein shown as comprising-a pattern chain 35 having lugs 36 located thereon at appropriate points depending on the pattern desired in the knitted goods. This pattern chain runs over and is actuated by a sprocket wheel 37 on a stud 38 carried by a stand 39. The sprocket'wheel 37 is rotated intermittently by the rotation of-the needle cylinder l and for this purpose I have herein illustrated a ratchet wheel 40 rigid with the sprocket wheel and co-operating with a reciprocating pawl 41 that is pivoted to an arm 42 fast on a rock shaft 43. This rock shaft has another arm 44 fast thereon which is connected by a link 45 to one arm of a bell crank lever 46 pivoted at 47 the other arm of the bell crank.

lever having a roll 48 that is engaged by the 3am 27 at each rotation of the needle cyliner 1. The rock shaft 43 is acted on by a spring 49 which acts to retract the pawl 41 after each forward strokeand also serves to hold .the roll 48 in the path of the cani 27. At each rotation of the needle cylinder 1 the cam will rockthe elbow lever 46 and thereby give the pawl 41 a forward movement through the connections above described. This will step the ratchetwheel forward one stepand by this mechanism the pattern chain 35 will be intermittently advanced.

The release of the lock 31 is secured by the p ose I have provided a lever which is plvoted at 51 and one end 52 of which has a nose that is positioned to be engaged by the risers or projection 36 on the patern chain. The opposite end of this lever 50 engages an arm 53 that extends from a rock shaft 54 journalled in a suitable bearing 55 carried by the knitting machine, this arm 53 being situated above and resting on, the end of the lock 31. When, therefore, a riser or projection 36 on the pattern chain passes under the nose 52 of the lever 50 the right hand end of said lever in Fig. 5 is raised and th left hand end is depre$ed thereby acting through the arm 53 to depress the lock or latch 31 and withdraw it from the notch 34: thus releasing the plunger 25. As soon as the plunger is thus released it is moved forwardly by the spring 28 and upon the next rotation of the needle cylinder it is moved backwardly by the cam 27 thus advancing the actuating member 15 one step and reversing the position of the notch 34. When the plunger 25 reaches its rearward position shown in Fig. 2 the lock 31 will automatically snap into the notch 34: under the influence .of the spring 33 thus locking the plunger in its inoperative position until the next riser or projection on the attern chain comes into operation. The width and pattern of the stripe, therefore, can be varied by varying the position of the risers 36.

As each am is carried out of operative position it 1s engaged by a yarn holder and is also cut. The cutting is done by a knife 56 as in my above-mentioned patent, said knife being carried by a swinging arm 57 pivoted to the bracket 12 at 58. This knife acts against an anvil formed on the pushback 7 The knife is actuated by the movement of the plunger 25, the construction being such that upon each upward movement.

of the plunger the knife will be raised and then released thus allowing it to have its {yarn-cutting movement.

For this pur I have provided a lever 158 pivoted at 59 and having in one end in which operates a pm 61 carried by the plunger so that as the plunger moves back and forth the lever 158 Wlll be vibrated. The upper end of the lever is provided with a cam surface 62 which is adapted to engage a pin or projection 63 extending from an arm 57 When the plunger 25 moves rearwardly from its forward position shown in Fig. 6 into the position shown in Fig. 2 the cam face 62 will be brought against the pin 63 thereby rasing the knife arm 57. This movement occurs as one yarn guide is thrown into its inoperative position and the yarn which is thus carried out of a slot 60 operation will be placed in position so that when the cam surface 62 has passed out from under the pin 63 as shown in F i 2 the downward movement of the knife w1lll sever the yarn. The pin- 63 has a bevelled end as shown in Fig. 7 and the lever 158 is made capable of moving laterally so that when the plunger 25 moves forwardly thus swinging the lever 158 into the position shown in Fig. 6 the end of the lever will wipe by the pin 63.

The yarn holder is of the same ty e illustrated in my patent, it being a coi sprin 6& connected at one end and at the other en to the knife so that when the knife is raised the spring will be opened to allow the yarn to enter between the coil thereof and when the knife descends to cut the yarn the spri wilil be closed thereby grip-ping the severe en I claim:

1. In a striping attachment for knitting machines, the combination with a rotary needle cylinder, of yarn-guiding tubes by which yarn is delivered to the needles, a. rotary actuating member by which the movement of the tubes into and out of operative position is controlled, a plunger actuated by the needle cylinder for stepping the actuating member forward, means to lock the plunneedle cylinder, of yarn-guiding tubes by which yarn is delivered to the needles, a rotary actuating member by which the movement of the tubes into and out of operative position is controlled, a plunger actuated by the needle cylinder for stepping the actuating member forward, means to lock the lunger in its inoperative position, andpattern mechanism actuated by the cylinder to release the lock.

3. In a striping attachment for knitting machines, the combination with a rotary needle cylinder, of yarn-guiding tubes by which yarn is delivered to the needles, a 1'0- tary actuating member by which the movement of the tubes into and out of operative position is controlled, a plun actuated by the needle cylinder for stepping the actuating member forward, means to lock the plunger in its inoperative position, pattern mechanism to release the look, a knife for cutting the yarn, and means to. actuate the knife by the operative movement of the. 

